EX-99.1 2 a5284148ex991.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 Exhibit 99.1
 
 

SAKS INCORPORATED ANNOUNCES NOVEMBER
COMPARABLE STORE SALES INCREASE OF 7.2%
 
   
Contact:
Julia Bentley
     
(865) 981-6243
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    
www.saksincorporated.com
 
 
Birmingham, Alabama (November 30, 2006)--Retailer Saks Incorporated (NYSE: SKS) (the “Company”) today announced that for the four weeks ended November 25, 2006 compared to the four weeks ended November 26, 2005, total Company comparable store sales increased 7.2%, and total sales decreased 49.3%. Sales below are in millions and represent sales from owned departments only.

The Company completed the sale of its Saks Department Store Group (“SDSG”) Proffitt’s/McRae’s business to Belk, Inc. effective Midnight on July 2, 2005, the sale of SDSG’s Northern Department Store Group (NDSG) business to The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. effective Midnight on March 4, 2006, and the sale of SDSG’s Parisian business to Belk, Inc. effective Midnight on September 30, 2006. Total and comparable store sales below reflect revenues of those businesses through the respective dates listed. Beginning October 1, 2006, the Company’s business consists of Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises (“SFAE”) and Club Libby Lu. Due to immateriality, beginning on October 1, 2006, Club Libby Lu sales have been included with SFAE sales rather than SDSG sales. For prior periods, Club Libby Lu sales are still reflected in SDSG sales.

For the four weeks ended November 25, 2006 compared to the four weeks ended November 26, 2005, owned sales were:

   
This Year
 
Last Year
 
Total
 Increase
 (Decrease)
 
Comparable
Increase
 
SFAE
 
$
275.2
 
$
250.0
   
10.1
%
 
7.2
%
SDSG
   
0.0
   
293.0
   
(100.0
%)
 
N/A
 
Total
 
$
275.2
 
$
543.0
   
( 49.3
%)
 
7.2
%
 
Merchandise categories and businesses with the best sales performances for SFAE in November were women’s contemporary, modern collections, “gold range,” and designer apparel; women’s shoes and handbags; men’s sportswear and accessories; intimate apparel; and Saks Direct. Categories with the softest performances for SFAE in November were jewelry and children’s apparel.
 

(more)

 
On a year-to-date basis, for the ten months ended November 25, 2006 compared to the ten months ended November 26, 2005, owned sales were:

   
This Year
 
Last Year
 
Total
Increase
(Decrease)
 
Comparable
Increase
(Decrease)
 
SFAE
 
$
2,210.8
 
$
2,163.0
   
2.2
%
 
3.7
%
SDSG
   
653.6
   
2,533.1
   
(74.2
%)
 
(0.2
%)
Total
 
$
2,864.4
 
$
4,696.1
   
(39.0
%)
 
2.8
%
 
Saks Incorporated currently operates Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises (SFAE), which consists of 54 Saks Fifth Avenue stores, 50 Saks Off 5th stores, and saks.com. The Company also operates 62 Club Libby Lu specialty stores.

Forward-looking Information

The information contained in this press release that addresses future results or expectations is considered “forward-looking” information within the definition of the Federal securities laws. Forward-looking
information in this document can be identified through the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “would,” “believe,” “estimate,” “contemplate,” “possible,” and “point.” The forward-looking information is premised on many factors, some of which are outlined below. Actual consolidated results might differ materially from projected forward-looking information if there are any material changes in management’s assumptions.

The forward-looking information and statements are or may be based on a series of projections and estimates and involve risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include such factors as: the level of consumer spending for apparel and other merchandise carried by the Company and its ability to respond quickly to consumer trends; adequate and stable sources of merchandise; the competitive pricing environment within the retail sector; the effectiveness of planned advertising, marketing, and promotional campaigns; favorable customer response to relationship marketing efforts of proprietary credit card loyalty programs; appropriate inventory management; effective expense control; successful operation of the Company’s proprietary credit card strategic alliance with HSBC Bank Nevada, N.A.; geo-political risks; changes in interest rates; the outcome of the formal investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the inquiry the Company understands has been commenced by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York into the matters that were the subject of the investigations conducted during 2004 and 2005 by the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of
Directors and any related matters that may be under investigation or the subject of inquiry; the ultimate amount of reimbursement to vendors of improperly collected markdown allowances; the ultimate impact
of improper timing of recording of inventory markdowns; the ultimate impact of incorrect timing of recording of vendor markdown allowances; and the outcome of the shareholder litigation that has been filed relating to the matters that were the subject of the Audit Committee’s initial investigation. For additional information regarding these and other risk factors, please refer to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2006 filed with the SEC, which may be accessed via EDGAR through the Internet at www.sec.gov.

Management undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Persons are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures management makes on related subjects in its reports filed with the SEC and in its press releases.

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